SIDELINES MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSIT Y
EDITORIALLY INDEPENDENT SINCE 1925
VOLUME 88 NO.18
MONDAY MARCH 28, 2011
WWW.MTSUSIDELINES.COM
MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE
Madden’s defense faces uphill battle Evidence mounts against student charged with first-degree murder of Lady Raider By TODD BARNES News Editor
Prosecutors submitted a slew of evidence Thursday against Shanterrica Madden, who is facing first-degree murder charges as a result of the stabbing death of Tina Stewart. A grand jury is scheduled to hear all of the evidence
May 16 about the bring formal circumstances charges against surrounding the Madden. Her March 2 death of lawyer is arguing Stewart, a 21-yearthe 18-year-old, old Memphis who is also from native who was Memphis, acted a member of the in self-defense. Madden Lady Raiders “How do you basketball team. get with one stab The grand jury will wound that somebody decide whether there intends and premeditates is enough evidence to to kill?” asked Joe Brandon
Jr., Madden’s defense attorney. “How do you make that conclusion?” The prosecution submitted various pieces of evidence, including video of Madden’s initial interview with police, photographs of Stewart’s wounds, photographs of Madden taken by police after the incident, Madden’s
blood-stained clothes, the alleged knife used in the stabbing and Madden’s written statement. The two-part video interview between the suspect and Detective Mike Taylor shows a calm Madden explaining what happened the night of Stewart’s death, in which she said an unidentified black male with dreads had
killed Stewart. “All I know is that I did not kill Tina,” Madden said in the interview. A stammered Madden then started to retell a different account of that night during the second part of the interview. She dismissed the story of the unidentified black male
GRAND JURY, PAGE 3
SGA approves parking lot bill
the student hadn’t said it,” Bogle said. “I just want students to know that we’re The Student Government listening. We’re taking Association unanimously action, and I hope this sets passed legislation Thursday the tone for all of the SGA. regarding changing the I want to take pieces of Ezell Hall parking lot’s time legislation that are all from restrictions for all parking student ideas.” passes from 6:30 p.m. She said that some to 5:30 p.m. senators had reservations Senators of the External regarding the legislation Affairs Committee because the new Student proposed Resolution 13- Union and College of 11-S in an effort to help Education and Behavioral students who are Sciences buildings registered for will open in evening classes the fall, and the finding closer parking lot may parking spaces. be busier because The Ezell parking of it. lot is located “No one really directly south of knows what’s the University going to happen Bogle Honors College with parking once and currently does not the construction moves open up for all parking and once the [parking] permits until 6:30 p.m., garage is up and if they’re and “most faculty and going to even put in more staff of the Honors College parking on the other side leave at 4:30 p.m., and the of the education building lot is often unfilled most for faculty,” Bogle said. of the day,” according to “Even if this legislation the legislation. is implemented through The change of time the summer - that’s better restriction would allow than nothing.” students to park for closer Also, she said some library access, as well as senators were concerned attending any 6 p.m. classes that the 2011-2012 Traffic in other buildings close by. and Parking Regulations At-Large Sen. Katie Handbook may have Bogle co-sponsored the been printed already, but bill and said she created regardless, this is what the legislation based upon students want – period. a students’ concerns that “This is really like a ‘Hey, was brought to her during we’re listening piece,’” a traffic court hearing, Bogle said. adding that she is the only She said traffic court senator on the panel. has proved to be a major “I probably wouldn’t SGA, PAGE 3 have even thought of it if By TODD BARNES News Editor
Photo courtesy of Justin Bingham
A student donates March 24 to aid efforts that were set up on campus to aid Japan as they fight to pull through from the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and continuing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex.
Students to continue Japanese aid efforts By AMANDA HAGGARD Associate News Editor
Students will collect donations on campus today and Tuesday at 10 a.m. in front of the Keathley University Center to aid the Japanese in a program called Genki for Japan. “Genki means vigor and energy,” said Priya Ananth, an assistant professor of foreign languages. “That is what we are praying that Japan gets back in abundance to get through this very difficult time.” Chiaki Shima, a graduate teaching assistant, and Risa Nakamoto, an exchange student from Kansai Gaidai University, are the main organizers of the event that was set up to aid Japan as it struggles to recover from the March 11 earthquake, the following tsunami and ongoing nuclear
crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex. Nine MTSU students were studying in Japan at the time of the earthquake and tsunami. Provost Brad Bartel and the Office of International Affairs advised study-abroad students in Japan to leave for their safety. One student returned March 16 and none have since returned. School officials said none of the students were impacted. The students have been studying at Toyo University in Tokyo, Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, and Nagoya Gakuin University, Saitama University and Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka. Justin Bingham, a senior majoring in digital animation, said he hoped this was the first of many efforts to
help Japan. “The thing is, the people over there aren’t just going to need help now,” Bingham said. “They’re going to need help for a long time, into great distances in the future.” Bingham helped organize the fundraising efforts by calling around asking for donations as well as advertising for the fundraiser. Students also collected donations outside of the KUC last Wednesday and Thursday. During Wednesday’s fund raising efforts, Bingham said a man showed up on his own accord to spin a sign with American Red Cross information on it. “He just walked up and asked if he could help,” Bingham said. JAPAN, PAGE 3
Aerospace program unveils new facility, equipment By EBONY V. EDWARDS Staff Writer
The department of aerospace unveiled its new air traffic control facility Friday in the Business and Aerospace Building. The event lasted from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and began with a brief lecture about the history of the aerospace department presented by Wayne Dornan, the aerospace chair. There was also a ribboncutting ceremony lead by Kelli Beam, director of membership for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, followed by a tour of the facility. The new facility is one-ofa-kind and features a seamless 360-degree air traffic control tower simulator, which
INDEX
includes 10 radar suites that can simulate both en route radar approach control environments, Dornan said. Gail Zlotky, air trafficcollegiate training initiative manager, said she has witnessed the entire project from the very beginning. “I have been part of this program for 14 years,” Zlotky said. “This new facility will place our students above and beyond any other school in the country because nobody else has the technology.” A lot of time and labor was put into the development of the new facility, and the remodeling of the faculty room took three months, along with 12-hour days within a six-week time frame for the building of the simulator, Zlotky said.
Photo by Bailey Ingram, photo editor
Alex Coats, a junior in the College of Basic and Sciences, sits in front of the new flight simulator March 25 in the Business and Aerospace Building.
People from other countries were also flown in to help with remodeling. “We worked all but five days of the Christmas break,” Zlotky said. “It was definitely time consuming but a great investment into
the students.” The facility will aid the aerospace department in all five concentrations, which include professional pilot, flight dispatch, technology, administration and maintenance.
By fall, the university will have the best AT-CTI program in the United States, Dornan said. Alumnus Adam Gerald said the aerospace program has come a long way since he was a student. Gerald is also a program assistant for the project. “When I was in school, we didn’t have anything like this,” Gerald said. “As seniors, we came out pretty knowledgeable, but the juniors now will surpass us by far.” The technology used to create the new facility and simulator is on a whole new level and is unlike anything that anyone has seen, Gerald said, adding that it seems to take all the extra guesswork out of flying because of
its skill and top of the line equipment. “We wanted to simulate a lifelike environment,” Gerald said. “Our simulator puts the student at 200 feet in the air looking down, which gets them the closest distance to working traffic. We can also simulate any airport to give the student a different environment, which is much better than what we were able to do before.” There will be an ongoing air traffic control open house for students who are interested in visiting and touring the new facility. Dornan said he doesn’t mind being the “best kept secret in Tennessee’s aerospace department,” but he said he does encourage everyone to spread the word.
IN TODAY’S ISSUE
EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE
WEATHER
Learn how a student-run clothing business brings awareness to the art of being ‘JAM-tastic.’
Keep up to date with the latest coverage and analysis of the Blue Raiders baseball team.
MONDAY
PAGE 4
SPORTS
FEATURES PAGES 4,5 OPINIONS PAGE 6 SPORTS PAGE 7
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2 SIDELINES MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011 a
NATIONAL AP NEWS
Authorities searching for alligator in rural Oklahoma
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Early registration starts next week for next semester STAFF REPORT
ATLANTA – An airplane bound for Detroit from Atlanta was hit by lightning shortly after takeoff and returned to the airport as storms rumbled through the state. AirTran Airways spokesman Christopher White says the plane was hit soon after it took off around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He said there was a brief, minor issue with one of the two engines, and the captain decided to return to the gate as a precaution. The Boeing 717 landed and taxied to the gate, where the 94 passengers disembarked. White says a new plane was brought in, and the f light continued as planned. White says it’s not unusual for planes to be struck by lightning and that they’re built to withstand it.
Priority registration will begin April 4 through April 15 for current students planning for summer and fall classes. After April 15, the university will open up registration for new, returning and transfer students. The university sent information regarding priority registration to student e-mail accounts Friday. It is important to register early, and the university tracks registration for a good reason, said Debra Sells, vice president of Student Affairs and vice provost for Enrollment and Academic Services in a April 4, 2010 interview. At the time of the interview, administrators were tackling the proposed restructuring of colleges. Although that has since been completed, registration is still just as important. “We’re going to use those numbers to help us figure out how many additional sections of the classes we need, which will determine how many faculty we need,” Sells said, during the 2010 interview. Advisors from each college have sent students information about open advising, and students may set up appointments or walk-ins are possible, but students may have to wait their turn. Students can find their assigned registration time on PipelineMT by clicking on the “RaiderNet” tab and then clicking on the “Student” tab. Registration will be in the list of links and labeled “registration.”
Cameras spark controversy with Interstate 95 drivers
Chinese Film Festival begins
WATTS, Okla. – Oklahoma game wardens say they are taking seriously reports of an alligator in a stream in northeastern Oklahoma. Game wardens say they haven’t seen the alligator but have seen photos that do not appear altered. They say it’s likely a pet that someone released. The wardens say there is also physical evidence – such as markings on the creek bank that appear to be made by an alligator sliding into the water. Local resident Chris Reese says he and two friends saw the alligator while driving beside the creek. He says the three returned later and saw the alligator again. They estimate it’s four to five feet long.
Airplane hit by lightning strike shortly of takeoff
RIDGELAND, S.C. – Cameras along Interstate 95 in southeastern South Carolina are nabbing motorists speeding down the highway and creating a lot of controversy. The cameras along a 7-mile stretch through the town of Ridgeland are the only ones on the open road along I-95. There’s also a camera in Maryland, but it’s in a work zone. The cameras in Ridgeland have spotted thousands of speeding motorists and won accolades from highway safety advocates. But they’ve also attracted opposition from state lawmakers and sparked a federal court challenge. Ridgeland Mayor Gary Hodges says the cameras are slowing people down and reducing accidents. Speed cameras are used on other roads and highways in 14 states and the District of Columbia.
LOCAL AP NEWS Metro schools to undergo extensive radon testing NASHVILLE – Nashville schools have launched a major effort to test every school building for radon, a gas that can cause cancer, after a television station reported the school system failed to follow a law passed more than 20 years ago requiring testing. Testing began this month and results aren’t expected until next week. Reducing radon levels in city schools was required by a Metro Council ordinance passed in 1988, with testing scheduled to begin in 1990. Brent Hager, director of environmental health with the Metro Nashville Health Department, told WTVF-TV that he was unaware of the ordinance and that they have begun testing. The Environment Protection Agency tested 11 schools in Nashville in 1989 and found most of the schools had levels of radon higher than what the agency considers acceptable.
Knoxville man acquitted in home invasion murder case KNOXVILLE – A Knox County jury has acquitted a homeowner of a murder charge in the fatal shooting of a trespasser outside his home. Jurors deliberated for about three hours, then found Kevin Beeler not guilty of second-degree murder in the shotgun death of 21-year-old Stewart Lee Williamson, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel. Beeler’s lawyer said Thursday’s verdict was just. The prosecutor told jurors evidence showed Williamson was running away when he was shot. The 39-year-old Beeler was home with his girlfriend, his father and his two children in April 2006 when a motion sensor and his dogs indicated someone was in the back yard. Beeler said when Williamson came through a gap in the fence, he started yelling and firing the gun because he was scared.
West Tennessee city praised for mental health efforts JACKSON – Tennessee Mental Health Commissioner Douglas Varney says Jackson is leading the way in mental health and substance abuse prevention efforts. Varney on Wednesday toured the Criminal Justice Complex and Madison County Jail to view some of the issues local authorities have to deal with in the courts and jails. According to The Jackson Sun, he said he wished other areas of the state would follow Jackson’s example. Local officials said Jackson’s Mental Health Court helps keep the mentally ill out of jail and on the proper medication. The area also has placed more efforts on getting officers to complete Crisis Intervention Team training.
THROUGH THE SIDELINES LENS Photo by Bailey Ingram, photo editor
Joanna Wulfsberg, a guest soprano artist at Wright Music Building, gave a recital March 27 in a program entitled An Afternoon of French Vocal Music. Wulfsberg is studying under Christian Isley-Farmer, a professor in the School of Music. She performed two Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart pieces and a piece by Christoph Willibald von Gluck.
STAFF REPORT
The 12th annual Chinese Film Festival began last night in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building, bringing the first of four films from four regions of China. The films will begin at 6 p.m. every Sunday for the next four weeks and are sponsored by the Confucius Institute and the College of Mass Communication. Following each movie, Liu Jue, a candidate for a master’s degree in the College of Mass Communication, will lead a question-and-answer session. All movies in the series have English subtitles and are open to the public. Last night’s film, “The Postmodern Life of My Aunt,” comes from eastern China and is tale of morality told from the viewpoint of an elderly Shanghai woman battling repeated fraud attempts from con men, including her relatives.
Photo Bailey Ingram, photo editor
Anne Freeman, a junior majoring in photography, and Nhu Duong, a sophomore majoring in public relations, sit down in Room 103 of the John Bragg Mass Communication Building on March 27 to eat popcorn and watch “The Postmodern Life of My Aunt,” a film from eastern China. China’s northern region is the site of the April 3 film “Together,” a film that follows a violin prodigy and his father as they travel to Beijing. Inner Mongolia and western China are the setting for the April 10 showing of the film “Tuya’s Marriage,” the story of a
ON CAMPUS “The Fourth Amendment: The Search for Reasonableness” March 28, 3 p.m. University Honors College Room 106 Tickets: FREE
“Rent” MTSU Theatre & Dance March 30 – April 2; April 6 – 9, 7:30 p.m. Boutwell Dramatic Arts Tucker Theatre Tickets: FREE
“Ten Ways to Change the World in Your 20s” March 29, 7 p.m. BAS Building State Farm Room Tickets: FREE
“From Empirical Science to Poetry and Prose” April 4, 3 p.m. University Honors College Room 106 Tickets: FREE
young woman taking into consideration another suitor in the wake of her husband’s disability. On April 17, China’s southern region will be explored in “In the Mood for Love,” wherein suspicions of infidelity create a bond between neighbors in a Hong Kong apartment building.
The Confucius Institute, founded in 2004, is a nonprofit organization established to strengthen educational cooperation between China and other countries. MTSU has been part of the institute since its grand opening in April 2010.
CRIME BRIEFS Traffic
March 23, 9:25 a.m.
East Main Street Heather Loftis, 30, was issued a state citation for registration violation and driving on an expired license.
Traffic
March 24, 9:06 p.m. East Main Street Sandrell Miller, 20, was issued a state citation for registration violation.
Traffic
March 24, 9:15 p.m.
Maintenance Lot Karissa Marshall, 19, was issued a state citation for light law violation and failure to provide proof of insurance.
Alcohol
March 25, 3:06 a.m.
OFF CAMPUS “Until the Kingdom Comes” March 29, 12 p.m. Frist Center for the Visual Arts Tickets: $7
International Lens Film Series: “Red Desert” March 30, 7 p.m. Vanderbilt University Sarratt Cinema Tickets: FREE
“Dolls of Japan: Shapes of Prayer, Emobidements of Love” March 29, 10 a.m. Tennessee Art League Tickets: FREE
Mark Curry March 31, 7:30 p.m. April 1, 9:45 p.m. April 3, 7:39 p.m. Zanies Tickets: $15
Langhorne Slim with Channing and Quinn March 30, 9 p.m. Mercy Lounge Tickets: $10
“Shadowlands” April 1 – 2, 7:30 p.m. April 3, 4:30 p.m. Lamplighter’s Theatre Tickets:$8
EVENTS POLICY
Sidelines welcomes current campus and community events submitted by all readers. Please e-mail events slnews@mtsu.edu. Include the name, date, time and location of the event, as well as your name and contact information. We reserve the right to refuse events at our discretion as our space is limited.
MTSU Boulevard Larry Lee LeDoux, 72, was arrested for driving on a suspended license, driving under the influence and criminal impersonation. A state citation was issued for registration violation and financial responsibility.
Drugs
March 25, 3:11 a.m.
Alma Mater Drive Jared Hall, 19, was issued a state citation for simple possession of marijuana.
CRIME STOPPERS
A cash reward of up to $300 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons who backed into a green Toyota Prius that was parked in the Fairview Building Lot and drove off Feb. 1, causing more than $200 worth of damage.
A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons who burglarized and stole an iMac desktop computer from Jones Hall, room 230 C.
A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the person who pulled the fire alarm on the first floor of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity house at 1:04 a.m. on Feb. 6.
Anyone with information about these incidents should contact MTSU Crime Stoppers. All callers will remain anonymous.
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MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011, SIDELINES 3
Senators vote to ease restrictions on hours SGA
FROM PAGE 1
resource for student interaction with the SGA. “Parking is one of their concerns,” she said. “So, I think that’s where a lot of students know SGA the most, and that it’s absolutely a way we can say ‘Hey, we know you’re concerned. We know you’re mad, and this is what we’re doing about it.’” She said that this legislation would ease students’ frustration with the MTSU Boulevard construction, which has created a barrier through the middle of campus. “We’ve definitely heard
a lot – a lot of complaints about that, and a lot of complaints about how sudden it was,” Bogle said. “Without any warning, there were all these fences, and you had to find your way through a maze. She said the senate is working to create legislation that would adhere to their concerns regarding the construction but realizes that the construction’s end product will likely greatly benefit students. However, Bogle said that the administration has the fi nal word on what the university will do, and that all legislation passes through Vice President of Student Affairs Debra Sells.
Detective offers theory about Stewart’s death MADDEN
FROM PAGE 1
Photo by Drew Gardonia, staff photographer
At-Large Sen. Katie Bogle presents legislation March 24 before the senate in the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building, during a Student Government Assoication meeting.
Former sex slave speaks By KELSEY WELLS Staff Writer
A person’s past does not necessarily determine their future, Cambodian human rights activist Somaly Mam said in a lecture Friday afternoon in the State Farm Room of the Business and Aerospace Building. As the keynote speaker for the annual Global Discourses in Women’s and Gender Studies conference, Mam discussed how she spent much of her early life as a sex slave but has dedicated the rest of it to helping others escape the abuse and illness she grew up with. Mam said she was sold in slavery when she was a young teenager by a man posing as her grandfather. Even today, she said she does not know exactly how old she is or who her parents were. She also does not know her real name. Her owner forced her to live in a snake and scorpion infested brothel with other young slaves, she said. Even though she was beaten and starved, Mam said she did not consider running away at first because, in the brothel, she at least had people surrounding her. Outside, she said, she had no one. It was only after the owner killed her best friend in front of her that she escaped. Since then, Mam has made it her life’s work to help other girls escape from slavery and learn to move on with their lives. In 2007, she established the Somaly Mam Foundation, a worldwide organization that has thus far helped more than 7,000 girls break the bonds of slavery. “I teach them forgiveness,” Mam said. “Not to forgive them, but yourself – so you can be happy.” Tina Johnson, director of the university’s Women’s and Gender
Photo by Bailey Ingram, photo editor
Sex slave survivor, Somaly Mam, speaks to the audience on forgiveness March 25 in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building. Studies Program, said sex trafficking is a “very important issue in women’s studies.” Though males are also often victims of slavery, women and girls are more vulnerable to sex slavery, she said. “She did not stop to think about the girls she left behind,” Johnson said. “She is a tower of strength.” Mam, who has no formal education, said she admires the girls she helps. One is now attending law school, she said. “I just have a heart,” Mam said. “They have brains. They’re my heroes.” Worldwide, sex slavery is an annually $32 billion industry, Johnson said, adding that it is estimated four to
Photo courtesy of Justin Bingham
Seitaro Oshima, an undeclared sophomore, stands with a handmade sign March 24 outside of the Keathley University Center.
Student donations to help in Japanese efforts JAPAN
FROM PAGE 1
The collection will take place until 3 p.m., if weather permits. In the event of inclement weather, donations will be accepted in the KUC secondfloor lobby. Contributions can also be made at Starbucks in the James E. Walker Library at any time during this week. “Your help can go a long way in encouraging and providing hope for the people in Japan,” said Rhonda Waller, the director of education abroad and
student exchange. “With the pocket-change that you plan to spend on a simple soda, wouldn’t it be more satisfying knowing that you contributed to a great cause?” On Tuesday, students will hand out handmade pin-on ribbons candy and snacks made in Japan in exchange for all donations. “We aren’t even going to count it until Tuesday,” Bingham said. “I think we raised a lot last Wednesday and Thursday, though.” All donations will be given to the American Red Cross, where they will be forwarded relief efforts in Japan.
five million people are living as slaves and two million of those are children. Extreme poverty is one of the main reasons children are sold as slaves, Mam said. Cambodia is divided between the “very rich and the very poor,” she said. Clare Bratten, a professor of electronic media production, said this divide is not only found in Cambodia. People from “poor countries are being sent to rich countries,” she said. Mam said more research is needed to determine other causes of sex slavery and better ways to combat it in a global setting. “Life is love,” she said. “Love costs you nothing.”
and revealed that she had stabbed Stewart accidently when she raised the knife to the middle of her chest, and claimed that Stewart had plunged herself into the blade. In the video, Madden can be seen giving detectives with the Murfreesboro Police Department a written statement. During Thursday’s hearing, Taylor said he did not believe Madden’s account. Madden said in the interview that she held the knife in the middle of her chest with the blade sticking straight out, and then Stewart plunged herself into it, but Taylor said that is not what the evidence shows. He said Madden was considerably shorter than Stewart by almost a foot, and the angle of the incision proved to be a downward strike. Additionally, Madden’s actions after she stabbed Stewart are questionable, Taylor said, adding that she waited 30 minutes after the incident to call authorities, which could have possibly saved Stewart’s life. “By Madden’s own admission, I believe that she said after Stewart collapsed, she simply turned off the light and shut the door,” Taylor said. “She went into the kitchen because she had clothing in the washer that she wanted to get dry. She took those out and put them in the dryer and waited for them to get dry.” Brandon asked Taylor for his theory on what he thought happened that night. “I believe she put forethought into killing Ms. Stewart,” Taylor said. Taylor said the roommates did get in a “physical altercation” that stemmed from Stewart’s complaint to officials at Raiders Crossings Apartments about Madden’s alleged use of marijuana. “I don’t believe that this was a significant physical altercation,” Taylor said. “The reason for that – one – there are no injuries to suggest this was a major fight to either party,” while adding Stewart’s room had looked basically untouched. He continued with his theory, saying after the
first physical altercation, an angry Madden left Stewart in her room as she went in the kitchen and grabbed a knife off of a plate sitting on the counter. He said he believes Madden then returned to Stewart’s room and knocked on the door, which she frequently kept locked, and caught her off guard when she opened the door. “Ms. Stewart was probably fighting with her as she was losing blood,” Taylor said, while testifying before the court. “At some point in time, she had lost enough blood that she was unable to fend off her attacker anymore and collapsed there on the floor, where she was later found.” Although, the fatal stab wound to Stewart was below her collarbone in the center of her chest, Taylor said there was evidence to suggest that Madden attempted to stab Stewart more than once. “I don’t believe her intent was to stab her one time, to get up immediately and go get help,” Taylor said. He said Stewart had a small wound to the back of her head, a minor wound to her left elbow, as well as cuts made on her left shoulder that were consistent with the type of serrated knife used in the stabbing. During his testimony, Taylor described in vivid detail how he believes Madden washed the knife afterward, wrapped it with another knife in a Tinker Bell blanket, and disposing of it in a nearby dumpster, all of which was later found by detectives. Brandon’s defense has so far relied on Stewart’s character and Twitter account. The defense repeatedly tried to use statements Stewart had posted on Twitter before the stabbing, but he was unsuccessful because Stewart’s account had not been secured by the court to be submitted as evidence yet. Brandon said Madden could not have successfully attacked Stewart because of the fact that the Lady Raider was a Division I athlete, painting Madden as not as athletically inclined as Stewart, and therefore less likely to have successfully assailed her. “A Division I athlete is no different than anyone else,” Taylor said.
4 SIDELINES MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011
FEATURES
JAM.
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Students’ small business proves to be ‘JAM-tastic’ By EMMA EGLI Features Editor
A successful business model requires that every small business starts with an idea. That idea requires proper nurturing, support and enthusiasm. A fitting name that people remember will help your idea f lourish. And finally, a lucrative business usually calls for a successful plan of action. The masterminds behind JAM Wear aren’t business majors. In fact, neither one have ever taken a business class. And they have only accomplished three out of the four steps, but that still doesn’t seem to be hindering their progress in the least. Donnie* and Jeffery,* both juniors majoring in recording industry, take their small business as seriously as the makeshift “office” they currently sit in. Seated in toddler-sized chairs in the preschool room connected to Bonhoeffer’s – a concert venue inside of The Church at Crosspoint – the two divulge on the creation of JAM Wear like talk show hosts bantering back and forth. “It all started with a band called Dr. Manhattan,” Donnie says, his excitement building as he tells the story. “They put out this album called Jam Dreams.” Jeffery jumps in and finishes Donnie’s sentence, something that happens quite frequently between the two roommates and close friends. “Basically, the album has a song on it called ‘To jam is your duty,’” he says.
Photo by Emma Egli, features editor
Desiree Blevins (left) performs at Bonhoeffer’s in Murfreesboro on Feb. 24 during “National Jam Awareness Week.” JAM hosted multiple concerts throughout the week. “Donnie started repeating it all the time to the point where it eventually stuck.” Their Facebook fan page explains the group’s goal in creating a new subculture surrounded around music and the arts. But more importantly, they are trying to create a following who understands the context behind their favorite word as much as they do: JAM. Like most words or catch phrases that seem to pop up and engrain themselves in the directory of American lingo, “jam” was one that was repeated so often in their household that the two decided it was time to share their jam dreams with the masses
– or at least the entirety of Murfreesboro. “We used the word in a context to describe everything that we liked,” Jeffery explains. “Whether it’s good music, a good time or good Taco Bell – it’s just the jam.” Donnie thought it would be clever to produce stickers that had “JAM” on them to help kick start this trend. “We also thought it would be funny to include a pronunciation key so that people would stop and read it the way we always say it,” Donnie jokes. “Jay-um.” The stickers themselves have caused quite a stir, their humorous placement around campus warning students to “JAM within
20 feet of doorways, windows or vents,” or that a “JAM Zone” requires a loading permit in order to park there. What started with stickers has slowly progressed into a steady production of screen-printed T-shirts, which can be spotted on numerous students on any given day. Their comical designs incorporate popular culture and play on words that utilize “jam,” creating an eye-catching image. “We were going through a bunch of ideas on how to expand it,” Jeffery says. “We had a bunch of really stupid ones like ‘jam-alama-ding-dong’ and ‘Jam City, USA.’ ” It was during a quiet acoustic set at Bonhoeffer’s that the epiphany for the first shirt design struck them. “We had been going through lines and characters in shows and movies nonstop,” Donnie says of the process. “Suddenly, we would just stop and look at each other with one of those ‘I got it’ moments.” After ideas such as ‘George Washingjam’ had been murmured, the two instantaneously struck gold and yelled, “Abrajam Lincoln!” The image of the 16th president donning a pair of Ray-Ban shades became an instant hit among their friends and also marked the need for a third business member to contribute to the expanding idea. Walter*, a senior majoring in recording industry, was a perfect addition to the group. “I got involved with JAM after the JAM WEAR, PAGE 5
SIDELINES MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
is looking for the next editor-in-chief.
SIDELINES MIDDLE
EDITORIALLY INDEPENDENT SINCE 1925
VOLUME 88 NO.10
TENNESSEE
STATE
UNIVERSIT Y
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2011
WWW.MTSUSIDELINES.COM
MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE
Gun violence sparks multiple inquiries Suspect awaiting March court date By TODD BARNES News Editor
A March 2 court date has been scheduled for the suspect arrested on suspicion of shooting another man in the thumb Monday, according to officials with the Murfreesboro Police Department. Justin J. Macklin, 20, bailed out of jail on a $18,500 bond Tuesday morning, after being apprehended shortly after 2 p.m. outside of the Business and Aerospace Building on Monday. Macklin is facing felony charges for possession of a firearm on campus grounds, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and he could also face additional charges for possession of marijuana. MTSU Police Chief Buddy Peaster held a press conference concerning the details about the incident Monday at 4 p.m. “A shooting on campus is something of a serious incident,” Peaster said. Peaster gave a play-by-play of how police strategically found SHOOTING, PAGE 3
McPhee responds: ‘a president’s worst nightmare’ By TODD BARNES News Editor
The campus shooting Monday was a “president’s worst nightmare,” President Sidney McPhee said, during an interview Wednesday. “I would say on the stress level from one to 10, it was perhaps a 12,” McPhee said. “In the sense – not in a panic way – clearly the number one McPhee priority is educating students in a safe environment.” University officials sent out five MTSU Alerts through a 30-40 minute time intervals during the incident, which 11,500 texts per alert were received by students and faculty. More than 30,000 e-mails and more than 10,300 phone calls were received by students and faculty during the 3040 minute ordeal. “Our fi rst responsibility when we have confi rmation of an incident like this is to get out as quickly as possible information to the campus through the texts,” McPhee said. McPhee said when sending out alerts through texts that it is important to be concise and straight to the point, as well as not causing a panic. “There’s a balancing act because you want to give
(Above and below) Photos by Taylor Hixson, staff photographer; (Below) Graphic by Josh Fields, production manager
Officers from the Murfreesboro Police Department arrest Justin Macklin, 20, outside the Business and Aerospace Builiding on Feb. 14, after witnesses identified him as the alleged gunman who shot Austin Morrow, 20, outside of the Keathley University Center.
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MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011, SIDELINES 5
Student-inspired designs secure large following JAM WEAR FROM PAGE 4
first pressing of shirts,” Walter says. “That first batch sold out almost immediately, and I saw an opportunity. The guys needed an in-house designer, and I needed a new project.” Walter proposed the idea of screen-printing the shirts themselves because it was cheaper and they were working on a strict budget. What they didn’t calculate was the amount of work this seemingly brilliant DIY project would entail. “After we printed the first batch of shirts, I just looked at Walter and said ‘I never want to do this again,’” Donnie says, chuckling at the memories of hours spent in a cramped closet that doubled as a makeshift print room. But even after a few mishaps, which included Donnie almost burning down their apartment after leaving a heat gun unattended, the trio is surprised at how strong the demand for their product that fi rst started as joke has grown. “We got the business started with a little under $1,000,” Donnie says. “But, with the first batch of stickers and T-shirts, we have quickly earned all that money back.” Jeffery jokes that their business model is the most unconventional he’s ever seen, yet it seems to be the key to their success. “We are the worst businessmen in the world,” he laughs. “We have no spreadsheets, no ledgers. We really don’t know what we’re doing, but that’s kind of the fun of it.” What they lack in business skills, they make up for in great salesmanship. “I think our charisma is a good way to convince people to jump on board with this,” Jeffery says with grin. With the JAM brand growing, the group realized there were still so many people going about their lives, unaware to the power of jam. This travesty was ultimately solved with the founding of National JAM Awareness Week in February. This sevenday ultimate jam fest brought together students, musicians and members of the community to participate in free events that all correlated around JAM. “The first few days, we set up and table on campus and sold our merchandise,” Donnie says. “People ran up to us all excited because they had heard about it or seen the stickers.”
The rest of the week continued with free live shows that included Nashville bands Brian Lee & His Orchestra, Brother Leather, Elenowen and Andrew Kelley Simons, and local Murfreesboro artist Desiree Blevins. “I remember in the early inception of this whole thing, Jeffery and I agreed that JAM Wear could be a catalyst to bring music lovers together in the area,” Donnie says. “These were musicians that we really believed in and wanted other people to experience as well.” Since that week, JAM Wear has slowly spread around campus, lending its fans to deduce their own idea as to what ‘jam’ means. “Jam is just an expression of aural approval and excitement,” says Rachel Cunningham, a senior majoring in recording industry management. Eric Richter, a senior majoring in recording industry, shares a similar concept of the term. “It’s just one of those terms that someone made up and it just caught on for no apparent reason,” he says. “And as silly as it may be, I think it’s a way for people to not take life so seriously. It really just reminds me to have fun.” Whatever the true meaning behind jam is, Donnie, Jeffery and Walter all agree that it’s kind of neat to start a trend. “It makes me feel like we are taste makers of what’s cool,” Donnie says. “We just know what we like and it’s cool to see that other people like it too.” The future for JAM Wear looks bright. The group plans on releasing new shirt designs, as well as producing merchandise for other bands. “We would like to work with local musicians in the future as we expand the product line,” Walter says. Donnie reflects on the idea of expansion and the fact that they might need to become more organized and plan ahead. “I suppose if this does get bigger and more successful we have to actually start keeping spreadsheets,” he sighs. Jeffery shakes his head and shares the only nugget of knowledge he every retained from an accounting class. “The only thing I learned from ‘Principles of Accounting’ is to hire an accountant,” he laughs. “So we’ll probably hire someone else to do that.” *The three students in this story asked to have their names changed in order to protect their anonymity.
Photo by Emma Egli, features editor
JAM Wear set up an informational and merchandise table during February’s “National JAM Awareness Week.”
HAVE YOU SEEN JAM?
Photo courtesy of JAM Wear
(Counter clockwise from top left) JAM stickers can be found posted around MTSU’s campus, including outside of the Keathley University Center, outside of Peck Hall, on the way to McCallie Dinning Hall and near the Cope Administration Building. JAM Wear, including the logo stickers, can be purchased through the company’s website.
6 SIDELINES MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011
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“[There are] even more construction obstacles to navigate on campus today. Who wants to play ‘Legends of the Hidden Temple?’” – Todd Hooper Whether
Student documentary follows ‘Transmen’ “What have they done with their lives that necessitates a documentary?” – Tanner Merritt
Immigration reform necessary for state
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Sidelines is the editorially independent, student-produced newspaper affiliated with Middle Tennessee State University and the College of Mass Communication. Sidelines publishes Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters and online during June and July. The opinions expressed herein are those of individual writers and not necessarily Sidelines or the university.
‘I’m One’ is just a slogan
I have spent some time recently I am extremely proud of my thinking about MTSU’s motto “I’m organization and all of its members. One.” It is splashed across billboards Over the past year, MT Lambda has all throughout our state and topraised almost $2,000 for children who performing students are promoted are being bullied in schools. We have under this banner on our website. Yet, participated in an AIDS walk, and we is it true? Are all students a part of the will be building a house for Habitat MTSU family? for Humanity. On March 21, MT Lambda, the We have worked with several student organization of which I am the organizations in an effort to bridge Brandon Farrar president, partnered with the Vintro to gaps that divide us. How many other produce a fashion show. MT Lambda Guest Columist student organizations can honestly say is a queer-straight alliance. We work they have done as much in one year? to promote acceptance and tolerance Yet, after being invited to participate in for all people and specifically for individuals in the a fashion show in which the proceeds would benefit LGBT community. In our efforts to outreach and children’s access to the arts, MT Lambda and LGBT work with other campus organizations, MT Lambda individuals are still mocked. provided drag queens to entertain the crowd between I am not saying that Batts or the SGA is homophobic. each of the fashion walks. I am simply saying that many people interpreted Batts’ I am aware for some in the audience it was actions in a disrespectful way, assuming that was the their first drag show and the performances could case. A lesson for Batts, and all of us for that matter, be overwhelming. However, one member of the is to respect the cultures of our diverse student body. audience made his disgust for the performers It takes a lot of courage to be true to oneself. It takes quite evident – Brandon Batts, president of the even more courage to defy set gender roles in order to Student Government Association. raise money for charity. I hope that Batts and future Batts turned his head, covered his eyes, and made SGA representatives will remember they are always cringing faces during the drag performances. What being watched and their actions speak much louder makes his actions unacceptable, is the office in which than any speech they could give. he represents. Batts is arguably the most recognizable I love MTSU. I received my undergraduate here, and student on campus. I will graduate with a master’s degree in December. I Where ever he goes, he carries his position with want to be “One” too. them. His display made several people, gay and straight, feel unaccepted at their own school. It was as if the president of the SGA was a vegan and went to Kappa Brandon Farrar is a graduate student and can be Delta Sorority’s “Wing Fling” and acted disgusted. reached at bmf2a@mtmail.mtsu.edu.
“The cost of undocumented aliens is an issue that immigrant bashers have created to whip up indignation against people they don’t want here in the first place. With the Senate having just returned from yet another vacation and promising to revisit the stalled immigration bill, politicians ought to set the record straight: Illegals are not milking the government.” –Anonymous
Equal access practice good for business Finally, there is a solution for local governments that try to push businesses to accept nondiscrimination laws that do not exist on the state or federal level. The bill I am referring to is the Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act. This bill provides that no local government can impose on any business or person, other than its own employees, any personnel practice, definition or provision relating to discrimination that deviates from the requirements of state law. It also makes null and void any nonconforming requirements imposed prior to its effective date. This crafty bill would protect all businesses, from small to large, in the manner of whom they wish to hire. It helps run with the idea that this is a Right to Work state, meaning businesses can hire whomever they wish. If there is an opening for a banking position at the front desk at a small bank called “Anderson Bank & Trust,” this bank could hire whomever they deem qualified. This means the person would directly act as the image for the business and have a disposition to maintain while they are at work there. This can be key, critical for competition with other banks, for great customer service and being greeted with a warm, friendly faces.
Andrew Anderson
Columnist In business, image is key but Nashville has missed the idea all together. Nashville thinks they can push a nondiscrimination clause upon all businesses in Davidson County to make “equality” a business ethic. So, the question remains does experience, education and great references outweigh “equality?” Not in Nashville. Thus, if passed, this bill would nullify Nashville’s anti-business law and provide the promise for choice for businesses across the state alike as to whom they will hire. Let’s secure our freedom and liberty for small and large businesses alike. It is indeed a free market principle to hire whom the business deems qualified and could bring experience to the table to benefit the business. That is far more fair than a liberal not so liberating idea of “orientation.” Andrew Anderson is a freshman majoring in economics and can be reached at awa2f@ mtsu.edu.
There’s nothing like a ‘dame’ Elizabeth Taylor was the epitome of grace, style, panache, fervor – and it goes without saying – beauty. Taylor, 79, died Wednesday. A veteran of all things Hollywood: fi lms, illness, heartbreaks and walks down the aisle, Taylor persevered through very personal and often public battles. Yet, what is truly remarkable about Taylor’s legacy isn’t just her acting, her grace, her flawless beauty or those magnificent violet eyes, no. Taylor was the classic example of a true dame. A societal champion, she was celebrated for her charitable work, including her pioneering effort to fund AIDS research and awareness. In 1992, she was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her prolific charitable contributions, which continue even in the wake of her passing. Taylor wasn’t just a beautiful face. She was a woman years before her time. As a young girl, she was destined for greatness, starring in such cinematic classics as “Lassie Come Home” in 1943 and her major
Christopher Kingsley
Guest Columnist breakthrough as Velvet Brown in “National Velvet” in 1944 at the age of 12. Taylor is perhaps best known for her cinematic triumphs in “Cleopatra,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Butterfield 8” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” the last two getting her two Oscars for Best Actress. Yet, with the beauty both onscreen and off came immense and public pain. Her string of eight marriages to seven men – she married Richard Burton twice – not to mention having a complete litany of medical ailments haunted her for decades. Still, Elizabeth Taylor defied the odds, even squashing allegations that
she was suffering from Alzheimer’s in an interview with Larry King in 2006. In the sunset of her later years, Taylor became increasingly reclusive, only making a handful of public appearances from the confi nes of a wheelchair. That isn’t to say she didn’t make her presence known. Even when she wasn’t seen publically, she still reached out to her fans using Twitter. I followed her myself. The world has lost a true legend. “It’s the end of an era. It wasn’t just her beauty or her stardom. It was her humanitarianism. She put a face on HIV/AIDS. She was funny. She was generous. She made her life count,” wrote close friend and actress Barbra Streisand. It’s perhaps the words of Oscar Hammerstein II that sum up Taylor the best: “There is nothing like a dame, nothing in the world. There is nothing you can name that is anything like a dame.” Christopher Kingsley is a senior majoring in English and can be reached at abrandnewmonarch@ yahoo.com. On-Campus Advertising
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SPORTS
Could we be Butler?
Photo by Erica Springer, staff photographer
Sophomore pitcher Daniel Palo launches a fastball against Jacksonville State during the Feb. 26 game at Reese Smith Jr. Field. MTSU lost 9-6, adding to the 16-loss season.
MT baseball road trip highlights struggles By ALEX HUBBARD Staff Writer
The Middle Tennessee baseball team dropped a three-game series this weekend to Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla. The series is the second-straight winless weekender for the Blue Raiders in Sunbelt action and leaves the team’s record at 5-16 (0-6 Sunbelt). Sophomore pitchers Daniel Palo and Hunter Adkins and senior Eric Gilley each took losses, 12-4, 3-0 and 13-2, respectively. Florida Atlantic University used the sixth and eighth innings on Friday to score four runs a piece to crack open what had been a 4-3 Raider lead at the top of the sixth. Saturday saw MT play a solid game that had the tying run at the plate in the ninth but unable to drive in a score. Sunday came down to the sixth inning, when FAU used nine hits to score ten runs and end the day for three Raider pitchers all before the inning was out, invoking the mercy rule in the seventh inning. The season has not been kind to this point to the Blue Raiders. Pitching difficulties and occasional prolonged silence from the MT bats have wrought havoc on the team despite defensive play that, while not outstanding, has often been more than acceptable. In the all-important weekend series, the Raiders have found themselves working from behind instantly, having yet to win the first game of a threegame series and giving up ten runs or more at least once in each weekend series. “Fragile is a great word to use,” head coach Steve Peterson said. “Our pitcher’s mindset can be, instead of when they get behind in the count, totally trusting their stuff to get the hitter out,
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they are being real careful, and that causes them to miss and not pull the pitch they want.” As many baseball coaches do, Peterson depends on the pitching to set the tone of the game and has seen the precarious pitching this season effect the team’s hitters. “As a group of hitters, they get behind, and they might think that they have to do too much instead of staying within themselves and trying to be a part of an effort to score a run,” Peterson said. “We’re not doing a great job throughout the lineup, but we’re not real bad. I mean we are producing some runs, but we can’t produce enough runs.” A look at the numbers reveals what Peterson refers to. As a pitching staff, MT’s ERA is 6.80. Among the starters, only Eric Gilley’s 5.35 ERA is below 6.0. One bright spot has been the pitching of redshirt freshman reliever Paul Mittura, who fell victim to three FAU hits in Sunday’s sixth inning but had put up a 2.65 ERA in nine appearances prior to the series. Its veterans are leading the offense, with seniors Will Skinner, Tyler Acker and junior Justin Guidry leading the squad in batting average. The three upper classmen have combined for 88 hits and 48 runs. It is a reflection of the pitching staff’s propensity to walk opponents that the Raiders are not often massively outhit. MT was only outhit once by FAU and has 20 less hits than its opponents in the season. Peterson has started as many as five freshman and sophomores at one time. Getting the start has been problematic for some, but for Hank LaRue, a freshman from Evansville, Ind., it could not have gone more smoothly. LaRue sits fourth in batting
average on the team at .310, with 26 hits, 15 runs and one homer and hit his first-career triple against Florida Atlantic. Peterson, who asked LaRue to play third base, a position he had no experience with, is very pleased. “He has been as consistent and solid a ball player, both defensively and offensively, as anybody in the lineup,” Peterson said. “He’s playing a position that is new to him, but it doesn’t really look like it. Murfreesboro native Ryan Stephens has had a more difficult journey. The freshman shortstop began the season as a starter but sat out four games because of the coaching staff’s unhappiness with his play particularly offensively. He has since returned and looked better, hitting .353 with six hits, five RBI and three runs scored in the week prior to the FAU trip. “He did a very, very good job of paying attention to the coaches and applying what he saw sitting on the bench of what he has to do to improve his game,” Peterson said of Stevens. “He is potentially our best center fielder as far as going to get the ball and providing solid defense at center field, but you know he also has a responsibility at the plate.” The Raiders will play two mid-week road games against Lipscomb and Austin Peay before returning home for a weekend series versus South Alabama.
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The casual basketball fan had never heard of Butler University two years ago. However, in that time span, the Bulldogs have established themselves as one of the top names is college basketball by earning their second straight trip to the Final Four on Saturday night. It was assumed that last year’s run to the national championship game was an once-in-alifetime moment but now, names like Brad Stevens and Shelvin Mack are commonplace on ESPN and in Sports Illustrated. It would seem ludicrous to pick Butler to win the national title this year. But now … people are afraid to pick against them. In all fairness, it’s not like Butler just hung the peach baskets inside their gymnasium in the past decade. Butler’s basketball history has two national championships (1923-24, 1928-29), 22 regular season conference titles and seven conference tournament titles. Current Ohio State University men’s basketball coach, Thad Matta, coached at Butler for one season (2000-01). Former University of Iowa coach, Todd Lickliter, coached at Butler from 2001 until 2007. Basically, Butler has been here. Now it’s time for us to take notice. My favorite thing about the NCAA Tournament is also one of the main reasons why the BCS doesn’t want a postseason tournament – anybody can win the national title. And I do mean anybody. All it takes is a winning
Richard Lowe
The Lowe Down streak at the right time of the season. Last year, Butler went 33-5 and was within a half -court shot of winning the national title. So far this year, the team is 27-9 and two wins away from that final goal that eluded them the season prior. So who’s to say that Middle Tennessee can’t be there next year? In the 2004-05 season, Butler went 13-15 and placed 7th in the Horizon League. The next season they won 20 games and went to the second round of the NIT. The following season, they won 29 games, tied for first place in the conference and ended their season in the Sweet 16. This season, the Blue Raiders finished 16-16 and second in the Sun Belt Conference East division. Looks like we are ahead of the curve. Whether or not you believe it, the biggest issue for our men’s basketball program is mental. It takes more than talent to be able to be successful year in and year out. You have to be able to go onto the court with confidence that you can win every game on the schedule. Of the 16 losses for the Blue Raiders, 11 of them
came as a part of a losing streak. Streaks are usually built on the fact that a team wasn’t able to bounce back after a loss. It could also be the fact that there was tough competition on that portion of the schedule. Losses to UAB (22-9), Vanderbilt (23-11) and Belmont (30-5) don’t bother me too much. Losses to Campbell (1219), Auburn (11-20) and Houston Baptist (5-26), on the other hand, are a cause for concern. Teams around the country end up losing games against inferior opponents every season. The reason behind that could be overconfidence or lack of focus. Cutting down or completely eliminating these losses is the difference between mediocrity and greatness. My high school wrestling coach used to drill our team on the “212” concept – the idea that water boils at 212 degrees and not a degree sooner. Teams, like water, get hot and cold depending on the environment. At 212 degrees, water boils and boiling water brings about steam, which can power a locomotive. That extra degree is what makes the difference. It could be a few more minutes of working out or extra shots in the gym. It’s all about the mentality of each person involved. Could we be Butler? Of course, but it depends on what the team is willing to do to get there.
Richard Lowe is a alumnus of the College of Mass Communication and can be reached at richardlowejr@gmail.com.
8 SIDELINES MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011
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